Echoing distant flavours of Sonic Youth, R.E.M. and Pixies, Aussie rocker and inspired songwriter DUEL NATIVE is the junction between mellow tones and haunting guitars you have been waiting for. Writing about his dual life as an architect and musician, and all the particular experiences that come with it, the talented artist has just released his latest effort, ‘Hiding Out’.
There’s no other judgement we can give on it, other than confirming how much it’s good. It is actually very good. Once the track kicks in, the listener gets bathed in grunge-y and sombre guitar arpeggios, joined by deep, low percussions. Then, surprisingly, the song shifts into a more uplifting chorus, perfectly conveying the lyrical theme: the feeling of freedom when one does not have to hide his/her true self anymore.
Intrigued by the project, we caught up with DUEL NATIVE to find out more about his artistry and future goals… Interview below!
MESMERIZED: Hey DUEL NATIVE, how is it going? some of our readers might not be familiar with your project, how would you describe yourself, in a few words?
DN: Indie folk rock dream pop something?
MESMERIZED: Your current work is the result of a long journey; What first drew you to making music?
DN: As a child, my sisters and I used to make these loungeroom theatre shows that consisted of singing, dancing, acting… Then as a teenager especially, playing music became quite an escape for me – a sort of coping strategy – I didn’t always fit into where I was.
MESMERIZED: If you had the opportunity to pick any artists in the world for a collaboration, who would be your first choice? (and second choice, perhaps?)
DN: Björk… Radiohead
MESMERIZED: Your newest release takes the shape of ‘Hiding Out’, an acoustic gem that feels mellow, yet intense. Are you satisfied with the final result?
DN: Thank you! I feel so happy with the recording. It feels strange to say it, but I just love listening to the song, and that is really important to me. It makes me sad when I hear artists talking about “getting bored” or “sick” of hearing their own songs. I hope to never feel that way. Going into the studio, I had a fairly clear idea of the feel that I was going for; yet I’m always open to experimentation and alternative ideas. I really enjoyed working with the guy I produced with – Mat Leppanen. He instantly understood what I wanted to convey; didn’t try to add over-produced vocal effects or superfluous instrumentation so many people do, and I am grateful for that with the final result.
MESMERIZED: Focusing on empowering listeners not to be afraid of showing their true identities, ‘Hiding Out’ will resonate with many of us out there. Is the lyrical theme drawn from personal experience?
DN: It’s both personal and projected. At the most fundamental level, it was me struggling to be brave enough to be myself – especially being the musician I’ve always needed to be. Then I see this struggle in 99% of the people I meet… this kind of hiding from being themselves. It could be something somewhat common, like sexuality; it could also be something very subtle, like the hiding of a lifetime dream. What is life if we don’t follow our dreams when we have the privilege of opportunity?
MESMERIZED: Do you feel more confident writing music alone, or within a team?
DN: I don’t know if confidence really comes into for me! I generally write music alone. It’s often a meditative experience, and a vulnerable one at that, so I prefer to be alone, helping the little seeds of songs grow before exposing them to the storms and droughts of the world outside!
MESMERIZED: Artistically speaking, what challenges have the last two years presented you with?
DN: If you’re talking about the impacts of COVID-19, I’m very fortunate to say that the last two years has been amazing for me, because it has given me the space to really create, reflect, and restore. I know the pandemic caused and continues to be the cause of a lot of challenging trauma for a lot of people, and I give my love to people who are suffering. I also believe that society wasn’t exactly going in a positive direction. It’s almost as if we all needed to pause – or stop – and reconnect with ourselves.
MESMERIZED: What are the next steps for your project? Anything exciting on the horizon?
DN: I believe ‘Hiding Out’ will open up a lot of doors, because it’s authentically made, and it’s different to a lot of music that’s being released at the moment. I’m excited about watching the song reach a lot of people. There are two more singles coming this year too, so watch this space!
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